Thermoplastics are highly common and we use them every day. These plastic items include our water bottles, our nylon stockings, the PVC pipes that rest beneath our home and the baggie we used to pack up our child's lunch. There are many types of thermoplastic packaging, and here are some fun facts about these helpful types of plastic.
For example, like so many English words, the word "plastic" has its roots its roots in the Greek language. The Greek word "plastkos" actually means moldable which is understandable since thermoplastics are plastics that are easy to mold when heat is applied to these polymers. To make things out of thermoplastic, thermoforming companies take large, thin sheets of plastic, heat them up and mold them into the shape of various products and many types of thermoplastic packaging.
There are plastics which are actually biodegradable though probably not how you think of it to be. As the common perception of people about the term "biodegradable" is that it is compostable where when one is biodegradable it naturally breaks down into compost. The same is not true with plastic however. Although biodegradable plastics can be broken down, only a few types actually compost down into the organic substance which is called humus. One good thing though is that thermoplastics come amply recyclable which is why one should always note to place them in recycling bins.
One type of thermoplastic is the most common of plastics and that is "polyethylene." It is this type of plastic that is responsible for the manufacture of millions of products annually including the plastic bags and plastic bottles you use quite often. And this polyethylene also has several varying types which you will find classified by polymer names just like the polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the low-density polyethylene or LDPE and the high-density polyethylene or HDPE. This particular plastic is not compostable making it an essential addition to the "must recycle" list in order to ensure that its environmental impact is reduced.
Polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene are designated, like all other thermoplastics, with special resin identification codes. The codes for these two thermoplastics are a 1 and a 2, respectively. These two generally are the types of plastics that can be simply tossed into recycling bins and are accepted by most refuse and recycling companies in the United States. Some cities also accept thermoplastic with other resin codes.
As to why recycling is significant, it is due to the facts that landfill waste can be reduced as well as marine and land animal habitats can be protected, amongst other reasons. When you recycle thermoplastic products and thermoplastic packaging much less energy is spent as compared to the need to manufacture plastic items with nothing to start with. If you only know how much energy is saved in a single water bottle that is recycled then you will surely recycle each one as it ach can be enough to fuel a 60-watt light bulb with power lasting to several hours.
For example, like so many English words, the word "plastic" has its roots its roots in the Greek language. The Greek word "plastkos" actually means moldable which is understandable since thermoplastics are plastics that are easy to mold when heat is applied to these polymers. To make things out of thermoplastic, thermoforming companies take large, thin sheets of plastic, heat them up and mold them into the shape of various products and many types of thermoplastic packaging.
There are plastics which are actually biodegradable though probably not how you think of it to be. As the common perception of people about the term "biodegradable" is that it is compostable where when one is biodegradable it naturally breaks down into compost. The same is not true with plastic however. Although biodegradable plastics can be broken down, only a few types actually compost down into the organic substance which is called humus. One good thing though is that thermoplastics come amply recyclable which is why one should always note to place them in recycling bins.
One type of thermoplastic is the most common of plastics and that is "polyethylene." It is this type of plastic that is responsible for the manufacture of millions of products annually including the plastic bags and plastic bottles you use quite often. And this polyethylene also has several varying types which you will find classified by polymer names just like the polyethylene terephthalate (PET or PETE), the low-density polyethylene or LDPE and the high-density polyethylene or HDPE. This particular plastic is not compostable making it an essential addition to the "must recycle" list in order to ensure that its environmental impact is reduced.
Polyethylene terephthalate and high-density polyethylene are designated, like all other thermoplastics, with special resin identification codes. The codes for these two thermoplastics are a 1 and a 2, respectively. These two generally are the types of plastics that can be simply tossed into recycling bins and are accepted by most refuse and recycling companies in the United States. Some cities also accept thermoplastic with other resin codes.
As to why recycling is significant, it is due to the facts that landfill waste can be reduced as well as marine and land animal habitats can be protected, amongst other reasons. When you recycle thermoplastic products and thermoplastic packaging much less energy is spent as compared to the need to manufacture plastic items with nothing to start with. If you only know how much energy is saved in a single water bottle that is recycled then you will surely recycle each one as it ach can be enough to fuel a 60-watt light bulb with power lasting to several hours.
About the Author:
Lenna Stockwell likes blogging about how stuff is made. For further information about custom packaging solutions or to find out more about thermoform packaging, please go to the Indepak.com website now.
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